AN: sorry for not getting this on time and me not being happy with it but I couldn't let this pass by without writing something.

Happy 32nd birthday, soldier!

Title: Hope

Word Count: 355

Pairing (s): Japril

Being alone on her 32nd birthday wasn't what she had wished.

To be fair, she wasn't alone-alone; she had Arizona, Callie, and even little Sofia. There even was a little improvised sing-a-long birthday (that ended in a "feliz cumpleaños" or something like that, thanks to Callie) in the kitchen that morning, courtesy of her friends and so she smiled like she really felt it, because she thought her friends deserved the gratitude after all the trouble she caused by staying with them.

Being kind of alone on her 32nd birthday wasn't what she had expected.

She passes through the E.R. and she is genuinely surprised when a string of nurses, and doctors, and hospital staff congratulate her on being alive for another year. She feels a bit guilty for feeling gloomy on her birthday when God had given her 365 more days on Earth; being healthy, with a secure job and happiness in most of those days. Maybe she'd pass by the hospital chapel before going (to Callie and Arizona's) home.

Being hopeful on her 32nd birthday wasn't something she planed.

Growing up, she always imagined herself well into her thirties with her M.D. title, happily married to an amazing man and maybe with a kid or two to complete the package. Later on, when no man took an interest on her, she pictured herself with many accomplished and successful projects on neuroscience or having a breakthrough on something that could change the future of humanity. In recent months, being separated of her husband (and for him not making an appearance on her birthday) wasn't something she thought possible.

That's why when she got to the attending's lounge to retrieve her things and saw a single red rose with them, her stomach jumped with a bit of expectation.

– Hey. – She heard from the door.

– Hi... – She retorted shyly when she heard that voice.

– Happy Birthday. Sorry, I'm late… didn't know what to get you.

Yeah, she had imagined a lot of things for her 32nd birthday, but this one was the one that she hadn't expected, and didn't know it was the thing she most wanted.